The great Indian revolutionary and an idol to millions of freedom fighters - Sukhdev Thapar - was born on May 15, 1907, and is remembered for his supreme sacrifice for the nation. A senior member of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), Sukhdev not only played an instrumental role in assassinating the Deputy Superintendent of Police in British empire - JP Saunders - in 1928, but also gave a new meaning to freedom struggle among the youth.

Described as bold, energetic, confident, learned, brave and a powerful orator, Sukhdev's presence among his fellow comrades filled them with new energy. His precision in speeches and ability to influence people was commendable. But, the best characteristic of Sukhdev was his expertise in planning the movements of HSRA. Shaheedi Diwas 2019: Remembering Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev on Martyrs Day

JP Saunder's Episode

Best known for his involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case of 18 December 1928 and its aftermath, Sukhdev played a key role in the assassination of DSP JP Saunders, which was HSRA's response to British empire for brutally killing veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai.

Though the great revolutionary trio - Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thakur and Shivaram Rajguru - had planned to execute British police superintendent James Scott, they mistook Saunders as Scott and executed him in 1928.

Lahore Conspiracy Case

Following the arrest of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his associate Batukeshwar Dutt, after they exploded two improvised bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi, Sukhdev too as arrested in 1929. The British made Sukhdev the prime accused number 1 (one) in the Lahore Conspiracy Case of 1930, whose title reads "Crown versus Sukhdev and others".

Hunger Strike

Along with Singh and other revolutionaries, Sukhdev went on a hunger strike under the leadership of Jatindra Nath Das, demanding better prison conditions for Indian prisoners. The strike was called off after the death of Das.

Martyrs Day

On March 23, 1931, along with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and martyr Rajguru, Sukhdev was hanged till death in Lahore Jail. Due to the fear of consequences that may follow after their execution, the British secretly cremated their bodies at the banks of the River Sutlej.

After India attained independence from the British empire, a National Martyrs Memorial was dedicated in Hussainiwala, where Sukhdev, along with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru was cremated. Apart from this, the University of Delhi named a constituent college - Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies - in the great revolutionary's name. Even Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Inter-State Bus Terminal in Ludhiana has been named after Sukhdev.

LatestLY salutes the brave and great revolutionary freedom fighter for his supreme sacrifice to the nation.